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(This venue is closed.) I didn't find anything I loved at dinner tonight. Perhaps my favorite appetizer was ca bam (shown; $6), seared monkfish with peanuts and basil served on toasted sesame rice crackers, but I've had better elsewhere. Of the entrées, duck with ginger sauce ($14) was pretty good. Dishes at Cyclo (See-cloh) tended to be overly sweet, and most of our group thought that the portions, especially for appetizers, were small.
Cyclo
203 First Ave. (12th-13th Sts.)
212-673-3957
To discuss My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, my book discussion group met for dinner at this small Turkish restaurant. The bare walls held the sound and made conversation a little difficult, but mainly because Taksim was filled with plenty of animated conversation; they seem to do a good delivery business, too. Of the appetizers we shared, I especially liked the simply dressed white bean salad, the excellent falafel, and the cacik (Jah-jik), the yogurt with cucumber, garlic, and mint that we scooped up with Taksim's pillowy warm bread.
My lamb casserole ($10.50), with potatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, and a healthy pinch of dill, was on the gamy side — Kevin, who ordered the lamb shank, suggested mutton — the rice was dry, and it wasn't a huge helping; OK, though. The tartness of my Aroma brand visne nectari (sour cherry juice; 250 ml.; $1.50) accompanied it very well. A firm baked rice pudding ($4) was good; I would've liked even more of that slightly burned crust on top.
Taksim
1030 Second Ave. (54th-55th Sts.)
212-421-3004
(This venue is closed.) Beef brisket on challah with mustard ($3, at least at the Atlantic Antic) was dry, and the bread was too sweet for my taste.
Nosh Delicatessen
214 Atlantic Ave. (at Court St.), Brooklyn
718-596-2EAT
Here the focus is on the sweets and savories in one long row of display cases. The filling in my spinach pie ($2) was good, but the wrapper was less like a pastry and more like a bread. I've had plenty of great desserts here on other occasions, though; must come back soon.
Damascus Bread and Pastry Shop
195 Atlantic Ave. (Clinton-Court Sts.), Brooklyn
719-625-7070
Most days this is just what you might picture for a Middle Eastern market — a carefully selected array of bulk products like spices, nuts, dried fruit, grains, and beans that gently intrudes into the aisles; more goods stacked on the counter, on shelves, and wherever else there's room. For the Antic, this grocery also showed off its catering moves; too bad a picture can't show how the juices sizzle each time they spin the shwarma.
Oriental Pastry & Grocery Co.
170 Atlantic Ave. (Clinton-Court Sts.), Brooklyn
718-875-7687
(This venue is closed.) Walked the Atlantic Antic this afternoon with my friends Sue, Kathi, Gil, and Jim. Since we'd just entered at one end of the festival, I started off light with a grilled sardine ($2), juiced with a squeeze of lemon. Sue got the paella; very moist, from the couple of tastes I managed.
La Mancha
135 Atlantic Ave. (Henry-Clinton Sts.), Brooklyn
718-797-1975
Excellent variety, especially in seafood, as well as meats and baked goods. On a visit to the Chinatown branch, under the Manhattan Bridge, I picked I pack of pumpkin pancakes (150 g.; $1.99). They're a prepackaged, crunchy version of the griddle cakes from that cart on Canal St.; a little squashy, not too sweet.
On another occasion, I gave a try to Mariza brand durian jam (350 g.; $2.99), from Indonesia. By smell and taste, I recognized the "king of fruits," but only as a shadow of his true self.
New York Supermarket
75 East Broadway
(one of several locations)
212-374-4088
(This venue is closed.) It's filled with oceans and oceans of packaged foods from all across East Asia; the produce and fresh seafood have a more local provenance.
(This venue is closed.) Dour-tempered Korean corner market and grocery.
Thank you!
